Melbourne dad Mark Darwish charged with kidnapping and extortion with threat to kill: Court

A Melbourne dad allegedly kidnapped and bashed a man who police say was burned during a brutal $120,000 extortion attempt.

Mark Darwish was charged with kidnapping and extortion. Facebook.

A dad allegedly clobbered a hogtied kidnap victim during a brutal and lengthy $120,000 extortion attempt in Melbourne’s south, according to police.

Mark Darwish, 50, fronted Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Monday charged with kidnapping, extortion with a threat to kill and intentionally causing injury.

Mr Darwish, co-accused Vakhtang Ninua and an unknown assailant allegedly kidnapped a man who police say they bashed and tormented for several hours.

In documents tendered in court, it’s alleged Mr Darwish, who fronted court for a bail application, lured the man to a Caulfield South home about 2pm on May 2 this year.

Mr Darwish allegedly led the man up the driveway to an open garage where police say he created a distraction and struck the man’s head with “closed fists”.

It’s alleged Mr Ninua and the other man closed the garage door and prevented the man from leaving.

Mr Darwish allegedly pummelled the man’s head with a hammer after he attempted to fight back, according to court documents.

The accused kidnappers allegedly dragged the man into the house where they police say they continued their brutal assaults.

It’s alleged Mr Darwish was armed with a handheld garden tool and Mr Ninua used a hammer to assault the man.

Darwish allegedly kidnapped a man at Caulfield South.

Mr Ninua, who last month made a successful bail application at the Supreme Court, allegedly put the man in a “chokehold” and was “squeezing tightly” until the man passed out.

Mr Darwish and Mr Ninua then allegedly bound the man’s hands and wrists together behind his back with duct tape.

The Supreme Court heard “it is anticipated” the alleged victim will give evidence “describing himself having been hogtied”.

The alleged victim’s mouth was also taped shut so he could “not call for help”, the Supreme Court heard during Mr Ninua’s bail application.

Mr Ninua allegedly burned the man with a “heat-gun” several times until he relented and coughed up his bank card pins.

It’s alleged Mr Darwish took the man’s car keys but he couldn’t drive it after he snapped the key inside the ignition and set off the car alarm.

Mr Darwish allegedly returned to the house and demanded the man disable the car alarm.

Ninua and the other man allegedly kicked the man in the ribs and stomped on his head after he said he didn’t know how to.

Mr Darwish allegedly drove his own car to a servo, withdrew $1300 then returned to the property.

It’s alleged Mr Ninua and the other man kicked the man in the head multiple times and knocked him unconscious for a second time.

Darwish allegedly assaulted the Melbourne man.

The accused kidnappers, who police say assaulted the man for several more hours, allegedly attempted to extort $120,000 after demanding he sell several licenced firearms.

The Supreme Court heard allegations Mr Ninua told the man “that’s how you are getting out of this” or “this is your way out of this”.

The man allegedly agreed to sell the firearms and give Mr Darwish the money.

Mr Darwish then allegedly untied the man, led him into the shower and washed the blood off him.

Mr Ninua allegedly gave the man a tracksuit to wear to replace his bloodstained clothes.

Mr Ninua also allegedly threatened he had “made inquiries of unknown individuals to see if (the man) would speak to police.”

Mr Ninua allegedly told the man he “pays off police”.

It’s alleged Mr Darwish drove the man home where his wife “immediately” called emergency services.

The alleged victim was rushed to The Alfred where he spent six days receiving treatment for lacerations, fractures and other serious injuries.

Investigators swooped on Mr Darwish the next morning and arrested the father of two allegedly attempting to flee his Bentleigh home.

Darwish was arrested at his Bentleigh home.

It’s alleged Mr Darwish was holding a blood-covered garden tool at the time of his arrest.

Mr Ninua was arrested just hours later at his Caulfield South home where it’s alleged the kidnapping and extortion took place.

Police allegedly “identified a strong smell of cleaning supplies” at Mr Ninua’s home, observed blood splatter and seized a blood soaked blanket, duct tape and a curling iron.

Cops also allegedly found $1725 stashed in Mr Ninua’s underpants.

Mr Ninua told police he was the “victim of a home invasion” by the alleged victim who had “arrived drunk and was behaving erratically”.

Mr Ninua claimed he acted in self-defence and lost track of time during the home invasion.

Mr Darwish made an outburst after a magistrate refused his bail application.

“He (the alleged victim) stalked me for over a year,” Mr Darwish said.

“I just want to see my daughters, I just want to see my daughters.”

Mr Darwish, an NDIS provider, was remanded to face court at a later date.

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